4th of July Preparation

Douglas County Sheriff’s Office is preparing for the upcoming 4th of July celebration at Lake Tahoe

Posted on 07/02/2019

The Douglas County Sheriff’s Office is preparing for the upcoming 4th of July celebration and would to wish everyone a very safe and Happy Independence Day. Due to the high volume of celebrants within the Stateline casino core, Nevada Beach and Zephyr Cove areas during this event and throughout the weekend, the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office is reminding our county residents and visitors to our area to be safe and mindful of the laws surrounding their festivities.
The goal of the Sheriff’s Office is protecting life and property while at the same time allowing celebrants to enthusiastically celebrate the July 4th Holiday. There are, however, behaviors that will not be tolerated by law enforcement.
Incidents which will most likely result in an citation or arrest include acts that place celebrants or law enforcement officers in jeopardy; including fighting, theft, narcotic violations, severe public drunkenness, minors consuming or possessing alcohol, possession of or discharge of fireworks, or any other act that disrupts the goal of achieving a peaceful and safe environment for all in attendance.
Persons planning to attend the various July 4th celebration in the Stateline, NV area are reminded per Douglas County Code 9.28.010, “Open container of alcoholic beverage unlawful.”
Any such containers, including their contents, will be confiscated for destruction by law enforcement with potential for citation or arrest.
Each year during these event, a large percentage of contacts and arrests are made of persons under the age of twenty-one. The curfew in Douglas County is midnight on July 4th and throughout the summer and all non-school related nights. Persons under the age of eighteen are subject to citation for being in violation of this ordinance. Persons under the age of twenty-one who are in possession of alcohol or under the influence of drugs or alcohol will be subject to arrest.
Nevada is one of 20 states that decriminalized marijuana possession effective January 1, 2017, but residents will still have to be 21 years or older to purchase and consume. It is still illegal to smoke marijuana in a public place and against the law to drive a vehicle under the influence of marijuana.
In addition to the augmented law enforcement staffing in the Stateline casino core area, Zephyr Cove and Nevada Beach, the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office and Nevada Highway Patrol will have a full complement of patrol personnel on duty in both the Carson Valley and Lake Tahoe areas to handle calls for service and traffic enforcement, particularly targeting speeding and intoxicated drivers. All persons who consume alcohol during the 4th of July celebration are encouraged to catch a ride with a sober driver, or utilize a local driving services.
This Fourth of July, commit to only driving 100-percent sober. Don’t lose your independence on Independence Day, and don’t be a deadly risk to yourself and other innocent people.